We all know the drill — here comes a new year, so it must be time to figure out the “new you.â€
But what if your “new you†resolutions included new classes and workouts to try, rather than making hard-and-fast fitness rules? While we all want taut glutes and shredded abs, emerging fitness trends incorporate our minds as well as our bodies — and can help you build a workout routine that lasts long after other resolutions fade.
Here are four ways to build resistance, resilience and longevity into an exercise regimen that you’ll love.
1. Water running
You’ve seen water aerobics, but what about water running? This aqua fitness endeavor offers a full-body workout that burns 40% more calories than running on land — and it’s low-impact, too.
There isn’t much gear required, other than access to a pool and a flotation belt. For a more enjoyable experience, you may want to invest in waterproof headphones too. Workouts can be done in the shallow or deep end, and you experience the benefits either running in place or doing laps. Check out YouTube for tips, tricks and workout sessions you can tailor to your own goals, from increasing endurance to training for a road race.
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2. Badminton
Move over pickleball, there’s a new-to-us racket game that’s heading to center court. The sport picked up steam over the past year, with interest from Gen Z badmintonists leading the way, causing an 80% increase in searches for rackets and outfits, according to Pinterest.
Badminton has easy-to-learn rules, can be played in a park or parking lot, and is extremely affordable — two rackets and a few shuttlecocks are less than $20. It’s an easy way to change up your fitness routine and is double the fun, because you have a partner to play with.
3. Longevity workouts
As we age, we should focus more on everyday functional movement over aesthetics and sheer strength. This is why fitness experts now design workouts to boost immune function, improve cardiovascular health and promote mental well-being.
Workouts like strength training, Pilates and yoga are great for longevity, but so are stability conditioning and mobility exercises like standing on one leg for an extended period of time, which can help people of all ages to move more and reduce the potential for injuries. This lets you add a bit more complexity to your everyday workout sessions and helps increase your coordination, awareness of your body and being present in the moment. Dance is another way to embrace different forms of functional movement and have fun doing it too.
4. Recovery sessions
We know about the importance of cooling down immediately after a tough workout, but what about rethinking your rest days? Rather than going from strength training to cardio and back again, consider how your recovery sessions could double as low-intensity workouts. From cryotherapy, infrared saunas and massages to dynamic stretching and foam rolling, embracing different techniques as part of your workout routine will not only help you bounce back faster, but it can also help prevent burnout and boredom.
